Each year, the winner of the Stanley Cup spawns numerous copycats, with rival GMs hoping to copy that successful formula in the hopes of earning a celebration with the cherished chalice. This year’s winner, the Anaheim Ducks, came out on top with a smash-mouth style, leading the NHL in fighting majors and demonstrating that once again, intimidation can be a key component of success on the ice.

But while the Ducks’ gritty formula for success gained notoriety, it was top-tier talents such as Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne that were the differentiating factors. Both were acquired as free agents, and with the salary cap expected to rise to somewhere between $48 and $52 million from $44 million, there will be some very aggressive bidding for this year’s crop when the market opens July 1.

Indeed, the Philadelphia Flyers got started early yesterday, when they sent a first round pick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for exclusive bargaining rights to free agents-to-be Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell. For the Predators, whose future in Nashville is uncertain at best, it allowed them to recoup an asset (the pick) they’d given up in the ill-fated Peter Forsberg trade. Meanwhile, the Flyers quickly signed Timonen (six years, $37.8 million) and Hartnell (six years, $25.2 million) to lucrative longterm deals, getting their roster-remodeling off to a smashing start.

Looking locally, all three teams reached the postseason this spring, but none got past the second round. Here’s a look at what they need to do this summer in order to boost their Cup hopes.

RANGERS

For the Rangers, reaching the second round of the playoffs meant taking another large step forward in their escape from the malaise of the late 1990s and early 2000s. In the first two post-lockout seasons, the Blueshirts haven’t been particularly aggressive in the free agent market, but that’s expected to change this summer.

Veteran forwards Michael Nylander and Brendan Shanahan will likely hit the open market on July 1, and where it once seemed a fait accompli that both would return for 2007–08, it now appears more likely that GM Glen Sather will first attempt to upgrade the lineup with some of the choice free agents available.

If Sather does in fact bid aggressively, his prime targets will probably be Devils’ forward Scott Gomez and Sabres’ forward Chris Drury, both of whom have been thorns in the Rangers’ side as opponents. Adding Gomez would not only improve the Rangers, but would also weaken the division rival Devils, while Drury is one of the greatest clutch players in the NHL today.

Should the Rangers fail in those pursuits — and even if they don’t — it’s possible that they’ll make a run at Sabres restricted free agent Thomas Vanek. The cashstrapped Sabres will do what they can to retain their core players (Drury, Vanek, and Daniel Briere), but will likely find themselves priced out of the marketplace.

Such is the harsh reality of a collective-bargaining agreement that was prematurely lauded as the savior for the NHL’s small-market teams. Based upon 30 independently collected team revenues, the cap bears precious little relevance to any individual team’s economic fortunes, and as it rises, smallmarket teams’ resources don’t necessarily rise along with it. As a result, the Sabres are quickly becoming as disadvantaged by the current CBA as they were by the previous one.

Of the Rangers’ unsigned players, the two most critical are goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and forward Sean Avery (both restricted free agents). Lundqvist is without question the Blueshirts’ franchise goaltender for both the present and future, a Vezina Trophy finalist in each of his first two seasons who is in line for an enormous raise.

Avery, added via trade in midseason, turned out to be the Rangers’ missing ingredient. Prior to his arrival, the wayward Blueshirts lacked soul; but when Avery brought his swashbuckling style to Broadway, they quickly began playing with renewed purpose. Avery earned $1.1 million last season, and his compensation can be expected to increase meaningfully for 2007–08, though not on the same scale as Lundqvist’s.

ISLANDERS

The buyout of Alexei Yashin was a critical maneuver for the Isles on multiple levels. Yashin’s inconsistent effort level drew the ire of teammates, and now that he’s out of the picture, GM Garth Snow should have an easier time luring free agents to Uniondale. Meanwhile, the controversial 15-year contract afforded to goaltender Rick DiPietro will have the opposite effect. One of the NHL’s top 10 netminders, DiPietro costs only $4.5 million against the salary cap, leaving it open for Snow to pursue high-end talent.

One primary target is Ryan Smyth, with whom the Isles can negotiate exclusively through the end of the month. Smyth loved his time in Edmonton, but his acrimonious departure at the trade deadline makes it unlikely that he’d return to the Oilers. But if Smyth hits the open market, it’s probable that he’ll receive an offer the Isles cannot match. If Snow is unable to ink Smyth to a deal, look for him to turn his attentions to former Isles captain Michael Peca.

Another unsigned Isle looking to score a huge payday is irrepressible winger Jason Blake. Blake enjoyed a career season in 2006–07, tallying 40 goals in 82 games, and his ceaseless effort has endeared him to the Isles’ fans. It’s possible that Blake will join good friend Mark Parrish with the Minnesota Wild, but more likely that he’ll return to the Island.

DEVILS

When Niedermayer left the swamp to join his brother Rob in Anaheim following the lockout, it dealt the Devils’ defense a critical blow. With nearly $31 million already committed to only 11 players, GM Lou Lamoriello will probably be outbid for the services of New Jersey’s two most critical free agents, Gomez and defenseman Brian Rafalski.

Success is supposed to be cyclical in the NHL’s new salary-cap-driven world, a reality Lamoriello has deftly avoided thus far. But as the key components of the New Jersey’s 2003 Cup-winning team continue to depart for greener pastures, it makes it more and more likely that an earnest rebuilding effort will be needed.

Unfortunately, the timing for that roster restructuring isn’t particularly good. Rather than icing a Cup contender for their debut season at Newark’s soon-toopen Prudential Center, the Devils will instead likely find themselves battling tooth and nail for a playoff spot. While it’s certainly true that Lamoriello’s team consistently surpasses all reasonable expectations, it’s also fair to say that the burden on aging netminder Martin Brodeur increases each time another reliable veteran departs.

Should Gomez leave, Nylander would be a solid and less expensive replacement. And Tom Poti, who played the last two seasons with the Rangers and Islanders, might complete the tristate area trifecta by joining the Devils for 2007–08, serving as a capable substitute for Rafalski. But there is no doubt that New Jersey’s power play will be downgraded significantly if Gomez and Rafalski don’t return, further shrinking the Devils’ already razor-thin margin for success.

Mr. Greenstein is the editor in chief of InsideHockey.com.